John Bolles, third and only surviving son of Thomas and Zipporah Bolles, was born in New London, Conn., August 7, 1767. At the age of thirty, he became dissatisfied with the tenets of the Presbyterian church, in which he had been educated. That church was the only one recognized by law. Its members composed the standing order, and, from the foundation of the colony until the adoption of a state constitution and the principle of religious toleration, in 1818, every person in Connecticut, whatever his creed, was compelled by law to belong to or pay taxes for the support of the standing order. It was as complete an “Establishment” as is the “Established Church of England.” Mr. Bolles became a Seventh Day Baptist,[16] and was immersed by John Rogers, the elder. Well educated, familiar with the Bible, independent in fortune, earnest in his convictions and of a proselyting spirit, bold and fond of discussion, Mr. Bolles engaged very actively in polemical controversy, and wrote and published many books and pamphlets; some of which still extant prove him to have been, as Miss Caulkins, the historian of New London, describes him, “fluent with the pen and adroit in argument.” From one of his books in my possession, it appears that his escape when his mother and her other children were murdered by Stoddard, and his deliverance from other imminent perils, “when,” to use his own words, “there was but a hair’s breadth between me and death,” made a deep impression on his mind and caused him to feel that God had spared him for some special work. This belief is expressed in some homely verses, Bunyan-like in sound, closing with the following couplet: “Yet was my life preserved, by God Almighty’s hand, Who since has called me forth for His great truth to stand!” ----- Footnote 16: This is an error. He became a Rogerene after the Rogerene Society had given up the Seventh Day Sabbath. ----- Under the spur of this conviction, he devoted himself to the great cause of religious freedom, encountering opposition and persecution, and suffering fines, imprisonments and beating with many stripes. After referring to several of his books his biographer says:—